1957 Porsche Model 356

[NickCats]

Had the Benz in for an oil change this weekend and my local shop had this in the showroom :









What a beautiful car ! If only I had $20k and a four car garage

Nick

[FTD]

Very attractive, but I can't get past the lack of wheel wells.

Why does it say kit car?

[NickCats]

Originally Posted by blkboxster

Why does it say kit car?

A real one would cost considerably more :

356A Cabriolet - $40 to $61k
356A Coupe - $25 to $38k
356A Speedster - $73 to $110k

356A Super Cabriolet - $40 to $62k
356A Super Coupe - $27 to $43k
356A Super Speedster - $74 to $112k

( prices from Nada )

Nick

[CJ_Boxster]

But its a Fiberglass kit car on a VW beetle chasis, You could get an unrestored 356 for about 20k or less.

[FTD]

It looks like it doesn't fit. Like someone picked up a top and set it down on a chassis, and didn't get the snaps clicked right. Look at the wheel 'cutouts'. The body is out a half foot or more from the tire sidewall. And no wheel wells! I bet if you went 35 mph or more the body would lift up - maybe pop off.

[JackG]

Originally Posted by FTD

It looks like it doesn't fit. Like someone picked up a top and set it down on a chassis, and didn't get the snaps clicked right. Look at the wheel 'cutouts'. The body is out a half foot or more from the tire sidewall. And no wheel wells! I bet if you went 35 mph or more the body would lift up - maybe pop off.

That's the way real one's are.

[Brucelee]

Nice. We have some CA Speedster kits cars out here that are just beauties.

[FTD]

You are right. Great photo. At least the real one has a wheel well. You know - something for stuff off of the tires to fling on to. Look at the last photo of the kit car and the rear tire. It looks wide open. I guess I am just fixated on that.

Happy Monday!

[RandallNeighbour]

Jay Leno drove one (a fiberglass replica) and said it was fun and a wonderful rendition of the real thing (which he owns), but commented it wasn't safe at higher than freeway speeds.

I'm betting the lack of wheel wells as well as other items like a good suspension have a lot to do with this. Your concerns are well founded.

These cars would be fun to have for putzing around town and the countryside with the wife (who won't let me drive fast with her in the car).

[JackG]

Originally Posted by CJ_Boxster

But its a Fiberglass kit car on a VW beetle chasis, You could get an unrestored 356 for about 20k or less.

Nicely restored 356's are fetching 60-80k. If you buy an "unrestored" one for 20k or less, you'll put another 20K+ in it turning it into a half-decent driver that you can trust. Show quality will cost you twice that. Unless you just happen to own your own Porsche Restoration shop.

The kit car above gives you something that's probably nicer to drive on a daily basis that a restored 356 (it has A/C!), and you don't have to worry about bending original sheetmetal made of unobtainium. If it has a nice paint job and is well-executed, it's worth every bit of 20k.

oh, so its not even a real porsche, just made to look like one.